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In my 45 years of dealing in Meissen Porcelain often attending the major sales this year’s auction sale at Sotheby’s New York broke all other records. Rarely do the smaller objects of desire; Meissen porcelain fetch over half a million dollars. But some lots within the Oppenheimer fetched over a million dollars. Normally for Meissen to fetch such grand prices it is because the pieces are of a grand size such as the famous collection of white animals modelled by Kirchner and Kaendler; All of these are figural. But with the Oppenheimer Collection other than figural designs on an important clock all the lots were either serving pieces or vases.

However there is another reason many of the lots sold attaining a very high price. Apart from their rarity value; the majority of the pieces originated from the Japanese Palace where each piece had a unique inventory number. This meant these pieces belonged in the personal collection of Augustus The Strong Elector of Saxony King of Poland. The Oppenheimer’s were Jewish this meant they had to flee Germany and occupation of other countries. The pieces had to be hidden from the clutches of the Nazis. After the war the collection was housed in the Rijksmuseum Amsterdam. Major collectors around the world were prepared to pay vast sums of money so they can say they own a piece from the collection. While all the pieces did not fetch record breaking prices the vases illustrated in this video broke records. These were on display at Sothebys London during the Spring. It was a rare glimpse into the spectacular painting and condition of porcelain rarities that fetched extraordinary interest as can be seen in the prices paid below.

A pair of Meissen Augustus Rex yellow-ground baluster vases and covers, Circa 1735These few examples of early 18th century Meissen porcelain belonging to the Oppenheimer Collection on display in Sotheby’s London in the Spring were sold in Sotheby’s New York on the 14th September 2021 for record breaking prices. See below. Lot 104 A pair of Meissen Augustus Rex yellow-ground baluster vases and covers, Circa 1735; $685,500. Lot 49 An extremely rare pair of Meissen Augustus Rex underglaze-blue-ground beaker vases, Circa 1725; $1,230,000 Lot 50 A very rare pair of Meissen Augustus Rex underglaze-blue-ground beaker vases, Circa 1725-30; $867,000 Lot 24 An extremely rare Meissen famille verte goblet, Circa 1725 $1,109,000

The Meissen Man